NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001
- Asbury Park: Commercial Building for Sale. Possible Sale of Business
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE• Automakers Sought Looser Rules. Now They Hope to Stop Trump From Going Too Far• NJ Gas Prices: Brace For $3 A Gallon With Summer Approaching• $4M Mega Millions Ticket Sold At Hudson County Convenience Store• Iran Fears Send Us Oil Above $70 For First Time Since 2014

DOL WAGE AND HOUR UPDATEPOTENTIAL PLASTIC BAG BAN IN NEW JERSEYWHAT’S GOING ON IN THE MARKETPLACE?NJGCA YOUNG PROFESSIONALSNEW UST REGISTRATION INFORMATION2018 DINER TOUR BEGINS NEXT WEEK

I talked to you last week about this serious issue of reporting payroll correctly. I received a call from the Asbury Park Press wanting to know our position on the gas stations that were caught cheating their employees, you can read that article here. The NJGCA position is very clear: in instances where our members are not cheating their employees but not making their payroll in accordance with the law, the Department of Labor should never accuse these small business owners in the press of cheating their employees. However, I am extremely sensitive to employers who do cheat their employees and take advantage of them. They are not only cheating their employee, but cheating my honest member who is their competition. A dishonest employer cheating his employees has an unfair competitive advantage over my member who is conducting an honest business. NJGCA and I personally, have zero tolerance for this behavior. I have in the past and will again in the future turn in to authorities any business who is cheating my honest members, even if the offender is another NJGCA member. As a reminder, a former NJGCA member was fined over $2M for cheating his employees at his multiple locations (no I did not turn him in, but would have if I had known about it). You can read this story here. Again, had this former member maintained his membership and received our multiple warnings through our communications in addition to the seminars we held with DOL officials, I wonder if he would be facing this huge penalty.

The potential for a statewide plastic bag ban has been an issue that has reared its head several times in the last four years. We have had a number of successful efforts to stop statewide bans as well as fees and taxes on plastic bagsthat would be paid by you. For those of you with auto repair shops, do not ignore this as I am aware many of you return parts to your customers in plastic bags. Even though you may not have as high a volume of handing out these bags to your customers as a convenience store would, this will ultimately cost you money as well. As a person who is obsessed with recycling and constantly taking my own family to task on this issue, I firmly believe that the solution to the plastic bag dilemma is a strict requirement for recycling. Why should these plastic bags be ending up on the beach, in the ocean, and ultimately, inside the bellies of the marine life that consume them? Why are we not making more of an effort to have them properly disposed of? Earlier this year we spoke to the Asbury Park Press about this issue, you can read that article here.

As I’m sure most of you are aware, the price increase in the marketplace cannot be ignored. The recent developments in world-wide politics is for the first time in several years having an effect on the price of crude oil. For a number of years, threats of unrest in the Middle East have done little to increase the price of crude oil as production levels in the United States have been at an all-time high and continue to grow. Unrest and uncertainty about the Trump proposal to pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement has caused the price of crude oil to rise above $70 a barrel. This is even with the knowledge of the market traders that production in the United States remains very high. I ultimately believe that regardless of what happens in Iran, unless there is an outright blockade of oil from the Middle East, that the high price that Americans are not accustomed to will cause a change in habits resulting in lower demand. The best remedy for high gas prices is high gas prices, I still think prices drop precipitously over the summer. For now, it is important to make sure that you are passing on every increase that you get and if I am right, that you hold on to as much margin as you possibly can when the price starts to drop. Don't donate to your customers the money that belongs in your pocket.

NJGCA is interested in forming a young professionals group, knowing that many of you have children or key employees that sooner or later may be taking over your business or transitioning into other leadership positions in the field. We think it is a great idea for the younger generation to begin networking with each other, sharing ideas amongst themselves, and sharing those ideas with us here at NJGCA. As you can tell from previous communications and our most recent On the Road newsletter, we are seriously looking into the future of the three industries we represent: gasoline, auto repair, and convenience store. The younger generation needs to be heard. We have several young members who have volunteered to head up this effort, and you will hear from them soon. The effort will be coordinated here in our office by our youngest staff members Michelle Horowitz and Eric Blomgren who have already informed me that I am forbidden to participate in any of the young professionals activities. Please reach out to Michelle or Eric if you would like to participate, or you know of others who may be interested.

NJDEP is phasing in a new Underground Storage Tank Facility Questionnaire Registration Process. Please see below for all information:

1) NJDEP is replacing the 3 (three) year UST Registration with an Annual (one) year registration.
2) No increase in cost for the new UST registration:
a. The cost for the new renewal UST registration will be $50.00 annually. (The old registration was $150.00 for three years)
3) The new UST Questionnaire is ten (10) pages long, you can download the form and complete it on your computer, print it, and submit it for renewal.
4) There is a 4 (four) page “help” document with directions to assist you in completing the form.
5) The phase in begins for UST registrations that expire and are due to renew on June 30th, 2018.
6) If your Gas Station Business is located inUnion County – you should have received the new UST registration questionnaire.
7) You must complete the new UST Registration Questionnaire and submit it with your annual payment of $50.00 to process the renewal.
8) Since NJDEP renews the UST’s by County; we have included a list of Counties and when each comes up for renewal:
a. Hunterdon/Somerset: 9/30/2018
b. Gloucester/Monmouth: 12/31/2018
c. Burlington/Mercer: 3/31/2019
d. Camden/Ocean: 6/30/2019
e. Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland/Salem: 9/30/2019
f. Bergen: 12/31/2019
g. Passaic/Sussex: 3/30/2020
h. Hudson/Warren: 6/30/2020
i. Morris: 09/30/2020
j. Essex: 12/31/2020
k. Middlesex: 3/31/2021
9) You must submit a copy of your ENTIRE Financial Responsibility Insurance Policy with the renewal
a. Please follow the instructions on the Guidance Document

Finally, I want to send another reminder about our first diner tour of the year happening next week. It is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th at 9:30 AM at the Skylark Diner in Edison. This is your opportunity to raise any questions or concerns regarding your business, the industry, or policy happening in Trenton and Washington. Please let Michelle know if you can make it by emailing her michelle@njgca.org. If you are unable to make this meeting, we also have dates locked down on June 13th at the Suburban Diner in Paramus and on July 18th at the Shore Diner in Egg Harbor Township. I hope to see you there.

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!THURSDAY, JUNE 7th, 2018 -- 7 AM to 3 PMWant one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices! We are offering the class:Thursday, June 7th from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Cost $275.Click HERE for the registration form, and please send Debbie Hill a copy of your drivers license with the registration form

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA aproved and very busy.

5/9/18Automakers Sought Looser Rules. Now They Hope to Stop Trump From Going Too FarPresident Trump on Friday is expected to meet with the chief executives of the world’s major automakers to deliver the: Get on board with the administration’s plan to dramatically roll back fuel economy requirements, according to interviews with four people close to the administration’s thinking. However, this past Tuesday in House testimony, Mitch Bainwol, the auto industry’s top lobbyist, suggested that the automakers have a different message: They are continuing to urge the Trump administration, he said, “to find a solution that continues to increase fuel efficiency standards.” The auto industry, embracing Mr. Trump’s promise of a more industry-friendly administration, has lobbied aggressively for a relaxation of the strict Obama-era rules. But the administration ultimately went well beyond what the industry was seeking. The administration’s proposed fuel-economy rollback goes so far, in fact, that California and a dozen other states have said they will retain the stricter rules, threatening to split the United States auto market in two. Automakers are also facing a public backlash over their calls for looser pollution rules: Sierra Club, the environmental group, said this week it had delivered a petition with more than a quarter million signatures opposing the rollback to Ford’s headquarters.

Gas prices at the Shore are closing in on $3 a gallon amid falling supply, rising demand and Trump administration threats to scuttle the Iran nuclear deal, analysts said. The price spike hits motorists as the busy driving season approaches. It signals the most expensive summer in four years. And consumers could feel more pain soon: President Donald Trump said he would announce his decision on the Iran agreement Tuesday afternoon, potentially further roiling the market. "This summer in New Jersey it looks like it's going to be about $3 a gallon,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for Oil Price Information Service, a Wall-based research company. The average gasoline price in Monmouth and Ocean counties on Monday was $2.92 a gallon compared with $2.39 a gallon a year ago. The statewide average was $2.89 a gallon compared with $2.26 last year, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

5/7/18$4M Mega Millions Ticket Sold At Hudson County Convenience StoreThe $4 million Mega Millions ticket sold in New Jersey for Friday's drawing was purchased at a Hudson County convenience store. The ticket was bought at Grab and Go on the 400 block of Tonnelle Avenue in Jersey City, state lottery officials said Monday. Tuesday's jackpot resets to $40 million with a cash option of $25 million.

5/7/18Iran Fears Send Us Oil Above $70 For First Time Since 2014US benchmark crude closed above $70 per barrel on Monday for the first time since November 2014. Oil prices have been climbing partly because of expectations that President Donald Trump will abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which allowed Iran to export more crude. US crude settled at $70.73 per barrel. It dropped back below $70 later in electronic trading, after Trump said he would announced his decision on the Iran deal on Tuesday afternoon. US oil prices have gained more than 16% since the start of the year. Brent, the global benchmark, is up around 13%. Prices have also gotten a lift from strong global demand and supply cuts by OPEC and Russia. But it's the Iran question that's driving short-term trading, experts say. Restoring sanctions on Iran could affect as many as 1 million barrels per day of crude supply.

5/7/18Obama’s Calorie Rule Kicks In Thanks To TrumpStarting Monday, calorie counts will have to be posted at thousands of restaurants, grocery stores and movie theaters, representing a milestone change in how the food industry shares information with the American public. The rule, an oft-forgotten provision of Obamacare, is being pushed over the finish line by a Trump nominee, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who says the labeling requirement is simply about transparency. The rule means that everything from the jumbo buttery popcorn at the movies to the taquitos sold at 7-Eleven and Starbucks‘ mocha grandes will have to show calorie counts right on the menu. Some grumble about the agency’s stance on this and other nutrition issues, which they see as out of step with the administration’s pledge to be more pro-business. On top of locking in menu labeling, FDA is moving forward on an update to nutrition labels championed by former first lady Michelle Obama, as well as on voluntary sodium reduction targets, which is hugely controversial to some processed food interests.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.